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NEWS
Jerusalem's Only Handicapped Mikveh in Disrepair
by Eliezer Rauchberger
Jerusalem's single mikveh for the handicapped is in a
state of deterioration and unsuitable for use, according to a
report presented to the Knesset Committee for Public
Inquiries. The passageways are too narrow to permit people in
wheelchairs to maneuver freely and the mikveh itself
is very old.
MK Rabbi Yisroel Eichler, chairman of the committee, called
the situation scandalous and decried the fact the Government
Committee for the Development of Religious Facilities has not
met for two years. "Not a single new mikveh or new
beis knesses was built during this period or received
government assistance," he said. Although typically, a lack
of funding is cited as the reason for inactivity of this
sort, in this case NIS 20 million was budgeted for the
construction of religious facilities, yet no construction
work has actually taken place.
During the meeting, it was found that last year the hoist in
the handicapped mikveh was replaced by the City of
Jerusalem's Religious Facilities Administration but no other
improvements were made, leaving the mikveh in a dire
state. The heating systems are also inoperable.
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